Automatic controlling device for heating apparatus.



E E.G0LD. AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1913.

1,087,231 Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

, INVENTOR WITNESS-ES: M

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EDWARD E. GOLD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNQR TO GOLD CAR HEATING & LIGHTING CQMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N; Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YQRK.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 317., 1914..

Application filed January 29, 1913. SeriaLNo. 744,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that l. EDWARD E. GOLD a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatio Controlling Devices for Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to heating systems and will be found particularly useful in connection with car heating systems, and is shown as adapted for use in connection with a steam car heating system.

The invention consists in the provision of means 'for automatically controlling the supply of heating fluid to the heating apparatus by the temperature of the apartment to 'be heated. P

Theinvention also consists in details of improvement in the particular controlling devices employed.

A. desirable form in which my invention may be embodied is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pdrtion of a railroad car having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a face view partly broken of an electric heater employed by me. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the ad mission valve and its controlling devices. Fig. J; is a face view of a thermostaticallycontrolled switch located in the apartment to be heated. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, parts being removed, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6, Fig. i, Fig. 7 is a sideelevation ofthe parts illustrated in Fig. 4.

According to my invention the tempera-- ture of the apartment to be heated controls the supply of heating fluid to'the radiating means through a thermostat located in the said apartment, which is in anelectric circuit. in this circuit is an electric heater and when the temperature of the apartment rises switch-member n and magnetized contact to the proper oint the electric heater is energized and t rough thermostatic-controlling means located near the heater the admission valve controlling the supply of heating fiuid to the radiator is closed.

In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings a steam heating system is shown wherein steam is taken from the train'pipe A through supply-pipe B which extends'through double car floorXto radiator C, the lower branch of which leads to a return pipe'D, the return pipe D leading to an outlet E, and this outlet may Well be of the usual type wherein a thermostaticallycontrolled' outlet valve is located within a casing F, and controls the escape of the condensed water from the system in the usual manner. As this forms no part of my invent1 0n it has not been illustrated. The supply pipe may be provided with a hand valve 1) if desired. L

Within the casing G is located an admis sion valve H for controllingthe supply of heating fluid to the radiator C. This admission valve is automatically operated by 'devices which are controlled by the temperature within the apartment, and my invention is related to the means for causing such automatic operation. The admission valve H is directly controlled by a thermal motor, which as illustrated is in the form of an expansible vessel 1 partly'filled with a volatile fluid which causes the vesselto expand upon an increase in temperature, and this vessel is caused to be expanded by an electric heater J when the same is energized. The said electric heater is in an electric circuit composed of wires K, L. The wires L lead to a source of electricity, and wires K connect the electric heater with the means whereby the same is automatically put in circuit and energized when the temperature in the car reaches a desired point. Said automatic controlling means are illustrated in section in Fig. 6 and upon the expansible vessel 1 closes the admission valve and shuts off the supply of heating fluid to the radiator.

I have provided an improved form of i switch which is operated by the thermostat M and the same comprises a ma netic points a, n. The switch proper n is mounted in adjustable needle point bearings n and has a projecting rear end carrying two rods a between which is received the operating end 11. of a bell-crank lever ntwhich is pivotally mounted in the frame. A setscrew n adjusts the arm n of the bell-crank lever with the arm nf. A frame 0 is provided for holding the said switch-member, and this frame comprises a rear plate 0 and the switch-member 'n, wherefore the move- Eli tilt

a front plate 0 lugs 0, 0 are attached to the rear and front plates res ectively through which bolts 0* 0 are passe to hold the device together and to support vessel M through clips 0 Means are provided for assisting the con traction of the thermostat M comprising a spring P shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and this member will engage the walls of the thermostat through a small plate 79. The expansion of thethermostat M will engage the rear arm n of the pivoted bell-crank lever causing its opposite arm n to move the rear end of the switch-member n in the direction of movement of the expansible vessel, and causing its front or contacting end to move in the opposite direction and make contact with the contact point a. The battery wire L is connected to the frame 0, as illustrated, and the frame. is in electrical contact with ment of the said switch-members to contact a will close the circuit and cause the heater J to be energized; Upon the temperature of the car falling the thermostat M will contract, its movement in this direction being assisted by the spring P, and thereupon a spring n lt ig. 6, pressing upon the arm n of the bell-crank lever, will move the switch member at out oi. contact with the terminal n (thereby breaking the circuit) and into contact with the contact n Both contacts a) and n are permanent mfagnets for the purpose of holding the switch member 7?. which is also a magnetic metal A late, preferably of spring metal, so that said parts will he held together obviating sparking. The employment of the spring switch-member together with the use of the permanent magnets as contact points causes a very quick separation of the con tact points and to a large extent overcomes the formation of an arc.

The wire K is provided with a handswitch it by which the circuit may,'ii desired, be broken. This wire K and the battery wire L are connected to the heater J by binding posts Z which are mounted in the rear plate y oil the said heater.

The electric-heater J may be of any desired construction. As illustrated it has a loaclr plate j which has a rear radiating face which is substantially fiat as illustrated and may he provided with any desired type of electric heater. As. illustrated heating wires 35 are surrounded by insulating enamel j ii frame Q supports the valve together with the eirpansible vessel l and the heater J, and the heater is mounted in a ring g, which ring has a flange g whereby it also supports the vessel l. The parts are held in position by swing bolts The expansilole vessel T has a rear wall a" which is normally substantially fiat and when the vessel is contracted, as illustrated nos-nest the' position shown in dotted lines in Fig.

3, wherein its rear wall 1? has passed substantially out of contact with the heater; at least only a small part thereof at the center remains in contact with the heater. Thereby the ventilation of the vessel is obtained and it is adapted to cool much quicker than would otherwise he the case, and is rendered more energetic in action.

The valve H is provided with a stem 71. upon which is a head b which receives the thrust of the vessel 1. This valve is normally held open by a spring h" which lies between the flange it on the valve and the valve seat h A gland k prevents the leakage of steam around the valve stem.

In many particulars the apparatus herein shown is illustrative only and may be modifled, as for instance, the employment of a steam heating system is not essential to my h invention, nor is it essential that the automatically-controlled valve should be situated in a supply pipe, as my invention could equally well be applied to the automatic control of an outlet valve in the return pipe. N or is my invention concerned with the particular type of electricheater employed. it will therefore be seen that numerous changes may be made in the construction of my invention and equivalent devices employed within the limits oi the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A heating system comprising a supply pipe, a radiator, a valve for governing the supply of heating fluid to said radiator, and means for automatically controlling said valve by the temperature of the apartment to be heated, comprising a thermostat located in said apartment, an electriccircuit in which said thermostat is included, and which. is adapted to he closed thereby, an electric heater in said circuit, having a substantially fiat radiating surface, a thermal motor located near said heater and adapted to be operated as said heater is energized, said motor adapted to lie in substantial contact with said heater when said heater is out ofcircuit and to draw away therefrom when heated by said heater, and means controlled loy said motor-for closing'said. valve.

A heating system comprisine a supply pipe a radiator, valve for governing i which is adapted. to be closed by said therm'ostat, an electric heater in said circuit, and an expansi'ble vessel located adjacent said electric heater and containing a volatile fluid, said ezipansible vessel having its wall next said heater adapted to be substantially parallel therewith when said vessel is contracted whereby said vessel is in favorable position to absorb heat radiated from saidheater, said apartment thermostat adapted to close said circuit upon a variation in the temperature in said apartment, and said vessel adapted when expanded to form a substantial space bet-ween it and said heater where-' by said vessel may be ventilated, and a connection between said admission valve and vessel will close said valve.

3. A car heating system, comprising a radiator and means for supplying heatlng said. vessel, whereby the expansion of said fluid thereto, an admission valve for governradiator and means for supplying heatingfiuid thereto, an admission valve for governing such supply and means for automatically.

controlling said admission valve by the temperature of the ,car, comprising a thermostat located in said car, and an electric circuit, and means for closing said circuit by said thermostat, comprising a magnetized metallic spring switch member, and means whereby the same is moved as said thermostat operates, and magnetic contact points for said switch, an electric heater in said circuit, and means adapted to be afiected by said heater when in circuit forclosing said admission valve.

5. A steam car heating system comprising a supply pipe, a radiator, an admission valve in said supply pipe, and means for automatically controlling said valve by the telnperature in the car comprising a thermostat consisting of an expansible vessel located in said car containing a volatile fluid, and

operated by variations in the temperature in the car,- an electric circuit and means for closing said circuit by said thermostatcom prising a movable magnetized, metallic, spring switch member adapted to be moved by the expansion of the thermostat and magnetic contact points for said switch, an electric heater in said circuit, an expansible vessel located adjacent said electric heater, and adapted to lie close to said heater when contracted and to move away on expansion, and

a stem on said admission valve located near expansible vessel having volatile fluid therein and afiected by the temperature of the witnesses.

EDlVARD E. GOLD. Witnesses: HENRY M. TURK, FRED l VHITE. 

